Finally, it's starting to look like a building.

Rain, Rain, go away, come again when the roof is on...
It hasn't rained in a long time, and God knows we need it, but not when I'm pouring concrete!!
The first scheduled day of pouring concrete was postponed due to the rain.  On the second day, well, it SHOULD have been postponed.  But it wasn't... The morning looked terrible, but just before the concrete trucks arrived, there was a good sign!

A beautiful, 180 degree arching rainbow!

This truck was converting rainbows into concrete.

And so it begins....

Homeschool Lesson: House-Building 101.

It wasn't long before it started to rain again...Hard to tell in this picture, but, it's coming DOWN!
 

Even John, of 3Design, Inc. came by. (with his matching umbrella!)  Great pic!

The very next day, Camilo was back to remove the forms....

 ...and the concrete blocks were being delivered!

Max immediately starts to work.
Ceci immediately starts to govern.

The Leaning Tower of Blocks.  Pretty cool, Max!

These block guys move FAST!  By the end of the first day, they were just about done... Just one small mistake... they missed a window!

But luckily, I noticed it and brought it to their attention, they quickly corrected it in time (before the morter set!)

Now, we're ready to start forming Tie beams and columns!  It suddenly feels like things are moving at lightning speed!  But delivery of steel and wood take a few days longer than expected and it takes a few days to get to the next picture...but I took advantage of the few days off and went Camping @ Fisheating Creek.  Check out this video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvSUgXVm998&feature=youtu.be

I guess now is a good time to put up a sign and get a little publicity...before now, people see my signs and think the property is for sale! But now, it LOOKS like a construction site and those types of phone calls don't happen much.

Left to right: House, Kenny, Mari (Cristy's Sister), Cristy, Max, Adela, Abilio, Ceci, Luis Jr., Luis Sr.

When will I get a picture of YOU at
"The Leon Family Project"?

What a great couple of weeks of construction!!

It's been 2 weeks and so much has happened, that it's difficult to keep track of it all!  Remember that I have an Architectural office with several employees, and being a contractor is a full time job too!! So far, I've been able to juggle the two schedules, but it's definitely NOT easy...  Waking up earlier than usual and going to bed later than usual takes some getting used to.  What's gonna happen when my two jobs have important issues at the same time? I imagine a scene like the one in Mrs Doubtfire where he was having dinner with 2 different people AS two different people...  I'm strangely kinda looking forward to it!
As I mentioned, a lot has happened... but only a "few" pictures are needed:'

First, here's the "red-lined" version of the shop drawings for the trusses.  I don't know that I've ever reviewed any shop drawings so diligently in my life!

Then I redesigned the stairs on the fly...

Ceci is always  up for going to the site with me...Future Contractor? or Architect? or does she just like to hang out with me?!

 Batter boards were all set up.  Just what I needed for the Setback Inspection, right?  If only construction was that easy... Setback inspection can't be done with out the rebar in the foundation, so...

...let's put in the foundation rebar! Oh wait, first we have to spray the site with termite killer...

Now, let's put in the rebar! Oh wait, next we need to compact the soil and test it for density...

...with a very sophisticated piece of machinery.

Now can we put in the rebar?  Almost!  Just a vapor barrier first, THEN....

 The rebar?  YES! and don't forget the wire mesh, and the corner bars, the top steel, the slab depression forms, the window openings, the door openings, the reinforced masonry bars, the column steel, the dowels, the electrical floor outlets, the panel and sub panel locations, the elec outlet for the island cooktop, and the hundred other things that had to go there before the slab gets poured...

Oh yeah, don't forget the electrical service lines and the grounding to the foundation steel!! Whew! So much to remember!

NOW, I can call for my Setback Inspection, Foundation Steel Inspection, Slab inspection, Compaction inspection, Termite Treatment Inspection, Plumbing Underground and Sewer Connection Inspections, Underground electric inspection, and Mechanical Underground inspection.... And hope none of them fail!

Let me introduce you to the Property Owner, Architect, Contractor, Plans expediter, and Inspector!  Everything looks good... I'm ready to pour concrete on Monday (weather permitting, of course. there is rain in the forecast.)

All inspections are APPROVED!
Ready for a Concrete floor!!